Matthew De Boer Biography

Matt de Boer joins the AFL Commission.

"Hopefully I can bring an insight into playing in both an established market with Freo and an emerging market with the Giants," de Boer said.

Matt de Boer retires after 223 games with the reputation as one of the best taggers the AFL has seen over the past decade.

"I loved it. It was exhilarating," De Boer said of being a tagger.

"I loved the analysis leading into the game, breaking down the person and recognising their trends over the last few games, doing that analysis in the lead-up.

"And then ensuring that I had the necessary level of fitness, strength to be able to match it with them and going into a game, I guess, with a heightened sense of emotions at times, knowing that if you're off a little bit, these guns can make you look silly really quickly."

Matt de Boer retires from AFL football, ending a 223-game career across 14 years at two clubs.

“My heart is unequivocally full of gratitude and love for the friendships, memories and opportunities that playing in the AFL has availed me," de Boer said.

Giants Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis and Matt de Boer are facing lengthy stints on the sideline.

Coniglio will have ankle surgery on Thursday after scans revealed a syndesmosis injury and will be sidelined for at least eight weeks.

Davis is expected to miss six weeks with a serious calf injury, while de Boer will miss up to 10 with a significant hamstring injury.

Stephen Coniglio will remain skipper of the Giants in 2021 while Toby Greene has been elevated to the role of vice-captain.

Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer round out the club's leadership group.

"It's an honour to be vice-captain of a club that I love so much and that has given me so much in my life. Leadership is something I've worked really hard on developing. It's an area I want to continue to improve in," Greene said.

"I'm really proud to support 'Cogs' as our captain. We've got a really strong group that will drive us forward in 2021."

Stephen Coniglio will captain GWS in 2020 as part of a six-man leadership group.

The Giants won't have any vice-captains under Coniglio, instead entrusting Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer to support the star midfielder, along with newcomers Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield.

Phil Davis and Callan Ward have stepped away from the Giants' leadership group after eight seasons as co-captains of the club.

"We're very fortunate at the Giants to have some outstanding leaders and I'm really confident in the mix of players that will be supporting Stephen as on-field leaders," GWS footy boss Jason McCartney said.

Matt de Boer will be the first League player in 115 years to be a member of the first Grand Final teams for two separate clubs.

De Boer played in Fremantle's first Grand Final in 2013, which the Dockers lost to Hawthorn, and will take his place this week as the Giants' run-with player in their 2019 AFL Grand Final match against Richmond.

Matt de Boer will miss eight weeks after suffering a fractured shoulder against North Melbourne.

De Boer was hurt in a collision with Ben Cunnington during the third quarter of the Giants' 23-point win at Blundstone Arena and played no further part in the match.

Matt de Boer signs a new one-year deal to remain at the Giants until the end of 2020.

Greater Western Sydney will be led by co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward for the eighth consecutive season as the club announced an unchanged leadership group for 2019.

Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly will again be vice-captains, while Matt de Boer is the final member of the group.

"What that process demonstrated for us is that we have a number of outstanding leaders at our club both in official leadership positions as well as across our entire playing group," Giants football manager Wayne Campbell said.

Matt de Boer's remarkable career renaissance after being elevated into a new-look leadership group at Greater Western Sydney.

The Giants will again be led by co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis, who continue in the role for the seventh straight year, with vice-captain Stephen Coniglio joined by star midfielder Josh Kelly as a deputy.

All Australian Dylan Shiel was voted into the group again, but opted to step away from his leadership duties, while veteran defender Heath Shaw also made way.

Matt De Boer signs a new two-year deal with GWS to remain at the club until the end of 2019.

"He was a valuable player both on and off field in 2017 and he sets an incredibly high standard around the club," Giants football manager Wayne Campbell said of De Boer.

"A consummate professional, the way he prepares and trains leaves us with no doubt he can continue to play a high standard of football for at least another two years."

Matt de Boer will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks after tearing his hamstring at training.

"Matt (de Boer) has contributed really well to our playing group throughout the pre-season," GWS Head of Athletic Performance David Joyce said.

"This is obviously a disappointing setback for Matt but no doubt he'll do his rehab very diligently to return to the field in the coming weeks."

Former Fremantle midfielders Matt De Boer and Tendai Mzungu have hit back at critics who have labeled them little more than back-up players at their new club, Greater Western Sydney.

"I'm here to play senior games and help this team win; I'm not here to make up the numbers," De Boer said.

"We'll be bringing our experience, and that mindset and attitude to every session to push the boys."

Mzungu says he hasn't given any thought to those who doubted the Giants' decision to give him another chance.

"It doesn't faze me in the slightest. I know internally we're really driven and we think we can help this group," Mzungu said.

"I know I need to work incredibly hard, and if an opportunity presents itself then I'm sure I'm up for the challenge.

"I treat it as a real opportunity at a team that is really on the rise and driven for success."

GWS select Matthew De Boer with pick No.58 in the 2016 National Draft.

Matt de Boer's career at Fremantle is over after the midfielder and club mutually agreed to part ways.

De Boer announced his departure on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

"Special thanks to everyone for all of your love and support throughout my journey with Fremantle. Ready for the next episode," de Boer wrote.

Matt de Boer signs a one-year contract extension with Fremantle.

Nathan Fyfe is elevated into Fremantle's leadership group, taking Matt de Boer's place.

Fyfe will join Matthew Pavlich, David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin and Lee Spurr in leading the club.

"Clearly on the field he's shown he's becoming an elite player of the competition," Dockers skipper Pavlich said of Fyfe.

"The players have certainly seen that. But his level of influence and his ability to give feedback to his teammates are certainly some areas that he's improved in and grown in. I think he's got a fantastic understanding of the modern game and how our game plan exists and how to execute that."

Matt de Boer has signed a one-year contract extension with Fremantle to remain at the club in 2015.

"Matt is a great competitor and he has been a member of the leadership group since 2011," Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd said.

"He is respected highly at the club and we look forward to his contribution in 2015."

Matt de Boer is set to miss the next four to six games after injuring his knee at training.

De Boer is in a brace after injuring the medial ligament in his left knee.

Despite playing every round this year, Matt de Boer isn't keen on being rested before the finals.

"Who wouldn't want to be in this team right now?" de Boer asked.

"There's obviously boys knocking on the door, and that competition is really healthy for spots. I won't be giving up mine easily at all."

Fremantle has re-signed three of its young guns, including speedster Stephen Hill, Matt de Boer and Lachie Neale.

"We regard all three players highly, and we are very pleased that they have committed to the club," general manager of player management Brad Lloyd said.

"We see Stephen, Matt and Lachie as being very much a part of the long-term future of the club."

Matthew Pavlich has been retained as skipper of Fremantle with a five-man leadership group to assist him that will include Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin, David Mundy, Matt de Boer and Hayden Ballantyne.

"It's humbling to know my peers and the coaching group hold me in that esteem," Pavlich said.

"I understand the responsibility that goes with the role and, hopefully, I can continue to develop and grow."

Ballantyne says his appointment to the leadership group is an honour.

"We have certain criteria that we hold ourselves to and I've worked as hard as I can to maintain those standards and it's been noticed by the team," Ballantyne said.

Fremantle's Matt DeBoer is eyeing an inside midfield role next season after being primarily used as a forward defensive player.

"I'll be working really hard so I can try and feed the ball out to Hilly (Stephen Hill) and David Mundy and let them do the flashy things on the outside," he said.

"I just like going out there and playing with the boys. Hilly can outrun anyone and I can put my body on the line for the team, so I'm happy to do my part."

Matt de Boer will become Fremantle's fourth debutant this year when he runs out in Saturday's western derby at Subiaco Oval.

"It's a big occasion for him," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"He's a product of WA football, coming from grass roots, playing at Claremont, being on the rookie list and now playing his first game for Fremantle against West Coast.

"He's got a more seasoned bodies than a lot of other guys we've got just out of the side at the moment.

"He's got a good temperament and he's got this exciting nature about him that can really enthuse the side.

"I'll ask him to fill a role and hopefully he can do that.

"Every club goes through injuries but when you lose one of your star midfielder like Rhys it can be difficult so it puts pressure on other guys to fill the void in that area."